UK Black Pride and London LGBT+ Community Pride Announce Partnership

Mar 29, 2013 |

UK Black Pride to feature at Pride in London 2013

Golden Square dedicated to UK Black Pride events on 29 June

UK Black Pride – Europe’s largest community-led, not-for-profit support group for African, Asian and Caribbean lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people – and London LGBT+ Community Pride are pleased to announce they are joining forces for Pride in London on Saturday 29 June 2013.

Just as in previous years, when UK Black Pride has brought great entertainment to renowned venues like the Ministry of Sound and Regent’s Park, this year’s free-entry but ticketed UK Black Pride main event will bring its winning formula to London’s Soho district, as an integral part of the Pride in London celebrations. Detailed plans will follow.

The partnership sees London LGBT+ Community Pride give practical support to UK Black Pride for Pride in London 2013. It also marks a ‘coming home’ for award-winning UK Black Pride which has not participated in recent London Pride activities because of concerns about the structural exclusion of the capital’s diverse LGBT communities.

During its time away, UK Black Pride has successfully built its own distinctive identity as a grassroots-led movement of race, faith and LGBT groups and trade union community allies. It has shown that putting people and politics at the heart of celebrating pride in our LGBT community’s progress is the most effective way to pursue the fight for equality, inclusion and steadfast opposition to all forms of bigotry in every section of society.

Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, UK Black Pride’s founder and Executive Director, said: “We’re excited to bring UK Black Pride home to the heart of the LGBT community as part of Pride in London. We’re determined to reach new sections of the community, without losing our identity as a national group that works for the capital’s Black LGBT people. We’ll bring our own brand of entertainment and education to promote love without borders and ensure this year’s London Pride is one the entire community can feel part of. UK Black Pride’s summer of love line up will include exciting activities and entertainment so make sure you come out to support the community’s Pride in London in 2013.”

Michael Salter, Chair of London LGBT+ Community Pride, said: “As the new organisers of Pride in London we are delighted that UK Black Pride will be part of Pride inLondon in 2013. There could be no better demonstration of our commitment to ensuring that Pride in this great, diverse city is inclusive and welcoming of the entire LGBT+ community.”

5. London LGBT+ Community Pride has a number of key ambitions for London Pride:

Build a longer term and more diverse festival culminating in a weekend of celebration

Build a festival encompassing arts, politics, entertainment and sport that showcases both the talent and contribution of the LGBT+ community and the positive impact it has on the Capital

Build events that can be self-sustaining and make a contribution to the LGBT+ community by providing a platform and resources

In future years the ambition is to move the event out of the congested streets of Soho and to some of London’s parks

Pride will encompass people of every race and faith whether disabled or able-bodied, and all sexualities and genders including gay, lesbian, bisexual, asexual, queer, questioning, intersex, trans*, genderqueer or non-binary – as well of course as our straight and cis allies.

The Board of Directors receive no remuneration for their involvement in London LGBT+ Community Pride CIC. The organisation is politically neutral and does not campaign in its own right for or against any specific body. If a surplus is made London LGBT+ Community Pride is legally bound to use it only in one of two ways: to help fund future Pride events in London or given as grants to organisations that work in/for the LGBT+ community.